London girl Mckayla Bruynius, 2, dies in hospital after being swept out to sea in Cornwall

Tragedy: Rudy Bruynius (right) and his two-year-old daughter Mckayla died after a wave swept them out to sea in Cornwall
Devon & Cornwall Police
Hatty Collier24 August 2016

A two-year-old girl from London who was fighting for life after being swept out to sea while on a Cornwall family holiday has died in hospital.

Mckayla Bruynius was with her 33-year-old father Rudy and her mother Lisinda when they were caught out by a freak wave at Fistral Beach in Newquay last Friday evening.

All three were rescued but Mr Bruynius – who was born in South Africa and lived in Morden with his family - died later in hospital.

His daughter also lost her fight for life at a hospital in Bristol last night, police said today.

Paying tribute to her husband and daughter, Mrs Bruynius said: “Rudy was a loving, caring and supportive husband, father and friend.

Mr Bruynius with his wife Lisinda
PA

“He had a great sense of humour and was an active person. He always put other people first.

“Mckayla was a busy bee and always happy.

“I am in disbelief at what has happened. I am so shocked at how quickly the sea condition changed on that day whilst we were enjoying a family time together in Cornwall.

“I pray that others can learn from our tragedy as I do not wish for anybody to go through our grief.

She thanked medical staff, the emergency services and the public for their support and offers of help after the accident.

The family’s two young sons managed to remain on the rock as the huge wave swept Mrs Bruynius, her husband and daughter into the sea.

The coastguard rushed to the scene after being alerted by a 999 call at around 5.20pm.

Mr Bruynius was pulled from the water by lifeguards and given CPR on the beach before he was airlifted to Cornwall’s Treliske Hospital.

Mckayla was rescued in a lifeboat and taken to Bristol Children’s Hospital where she spent four days in a critical condition before she died.

A JustGiving page set up by friend Terri-Anne Young Remant to support the family has raised more than £31,000.

Writing on the page, family friends Armand and Madelein Jansen Van Noordwyk said: “Mckayla is now peacefully resting with her Daddy. She went last night. Rest well little angel, we will miss you more than words can say.

“All our prayers and thoughts are now with Lisinda and the boys. We know the road ahead will be rocky and very, very hard. May they find the strength.”

Investigating officer Detective Constable Jarrod Yewen, from Newquay CID, said: “This is a tragic case for all those involved and our thoughts remain with the family at what is a deeply traumatic time for them.

“The deaths are not being investigated as suspicious therefore the police will now prepare a file for HM Coroner and an inquest will be held in due course.”

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